Bryan Kohberger’s Selfie, the Knife, and the Receipt That Changes Everything | 2025 Year in Review

As part of our Hidden Killers 2025 Year in Review series, we revisit one of the most surreal twists in the Donna Adelson murder trial — the moment when a novel became potential evidence in a real-life homicide case. In this special episode, Tony Brueski breaks down the unprecedented legal and psychological debate surrounding This Is Our Story, a book written by Donna’s daughter, Wendi Adelson, years before the murder of her ex-husband, Dan Markel. What began as fiction has now been pulled into a courtroom as a possible roadmap to motive. Prosecutors argue that the story — about a woman desperate to escape her marriage and rebuild her life without her husband — eerily mirrors Wendi’s real-life circumstances before Markel’s death. They claim it exposes family resentment, obsession with control, and the emotional triggers that led to murder. The defense, meanwhile, insists the book is irrelevant, prejudicial, and “a dangerous conflation of art and accusation.” Tony unpacks the courtroom fight over this bizarre piece of evidence: Why the State believes Wendi’s novel matters — and how prosecutors think it reveals intent. How Donna’s defense team is trying to block it, calling it an unfair literary witch hunt. What the novel actually says — and why its parallels to the Markel-Adelson saga are impossible to ignore. But this episode isn’t just about the legal argument. It’s about narrative control — the very thing the Adelsons have fought to maintain since the day Dan Markel was shot in his driveway. From Donna’s alleged orchestration of the hit to Wendi’s public denial of involvement, the family’s story has always been carefully curated. Now, that curation may become their undoing. Could fiction really help convict someone of murder? Or is this a dangerous precedent that blurs the line between imagination and evidence? Either way, the irony is impossible to miss: the Adelsons, who once controlled the narrative, may now be undone by one they wrote themselves. 🎙️ Hidden Killers with Tony Brueski — 2025 Year in Review: The Cases Where Truth Was Stranger Than Fiction. #DonnaAdelson #WendiAdelson #DanMarkel #HiddenKillers #TonyBrueski #TrueCrimePodcast #MurderForHire #CourtroomDrama #FloridaCrime #JusticeForDanMarkel #YearInReview #TrueCrimeToday Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

28 Nov 52min

As part of our Hidden Killers 2025 Year in Review series, we’re revisiting the most disturbing, politically charged, and psychologically revealing chapter in the Gilgo Beach murder investigation — one that now includes the alleged discovery of Rex Heuermann’s “manifesto.” In this explosive special, Tony Brueski unpacks two powerful narratives unfolding in parallel: the discovery of a chilling document allegedly authored by Heuermann detailing methods for serial murder, and the growing skepticism of his ex-wife Asa Ellerup, who’s beginning to wonder if her former husband might be a pawn in a much darker story of corruption and cover-ups. Investigators reportedly found a meticulously written digital file on Heuermann’s computer — a step-by-step “how-to” guide for abducting, killing, dismembering, and disposing of victims while avoiding forensic detection. The alleged instructions include forensic countermeasures that mirror the real-world evidence found across multiple crime scenes, including Manorville and Ocean Parkway, where the remains of victims like Jessica Taylor and Valerie Mack were discovered. Prosecutors say this “manifesto” could become the smoking gun in proving premeditation, linking Heuermann to multiple unsolved murders, and showing a disturbing consciousness of guilt. But with a county marred by scandal — from former police chief James Burke’s porn-and-violence scandal to DA Thomas Spota’s obstruction conviction — the defense is asking: how much of this can be trusted? Enter Asa Ellerup. After watching Netflix’s Gone Girls: The Long Island Serial Killer, she isn’t pushing wild conspiracies — but she is questioning the system. Her legal team is raising alarms about Suffolk County’s history of corruption, claiming it taints everything from the DNA evidence (derived through a contested “whole genome sequencing” technique) to the investigative integrity itself. Could a broken system be capable of building a monster to hide its own sins? Or is this simply the final unraveling of one of America’s most terrifying suburban nightmares? 🎙️ Hidden Killers with Tony Brueski — 2025 Year in Review: The Crimes, The Cover-Ups, and The Chaos That Defined the Year. #RexHeuermann #GilgoBeachMurders #AsaEllerup #HiddenKillers #TonyBrueski #SuffolkCounty #JamesBurke #Corruption #TrueCrimePodcast #ManifestoEvidence #SerialKillerCase #YearInReview #JusticeForVictims #TrueCrimeToday Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

28 Nov 53min

As part of our Hidden Killers 2025 Year in Review series, we’re peeling back the layers of one of the most disturbing psychological power structures ever exposed in celebrity culture — the world of Sean “Diddy” Combs. In this gripping two-part special, Tony Brueski and retired FBI Behavioral Analyst Robin Dreeke dive deep into how fear, manipulation, and emotional dependency built an empire of silence around Diddy for decades. Why didn’t more people speak up sooner? Dreeke reveals the three psychological levers that kept Diddy’s inner circle compliant — even as the behavior around them crossed moral and legal lines. From fear-based loyalty and financial entanglement to the illusion of belonging, Dreeke dissects how coercive control can transform a celebrity brand into a psychological fortress. This episode doesn’t just explore the headlines — it exposes the mechanics behind them. How does a person with immense power and charisma create a reality distortion field so strong that people rationalize the unthinkable? How do those closest to the source of abuse convince themselves they’re “protected,” when in truth, they’re prisoners of influence? Drawing from FBI behavioral science and decades of fieldwork, Dreeke and Brueski connect Diddy’s alleged patterns to cult-style leadership psychology, trauma bonding, and the weaponization of loyalty. They break down how abusers in positions of fame exploit human nature’s deepest needs — safety, validation, and identity — to ensure silence and complicity. This isn’t just a celebrity scandal. It’s a case study in toxic leadership, groupthink, and the quiet, corrosive power of fear. It’s about how one man allegedly turned charisma into control — and how those around him, knowingly or not, became part of the machine that protected him. 🎙️ Hidden Killers with Tony Brueski — 2025 Year in Review: The Cases That Exposed Power, Silence, and the Psychology of Control. #DiddyTrial #SeanCombs #RobinDreeke #HiddenKillers #TonyBrueski #TrueCrimePodcast #FBIBehavioralAnalysis #CoerciveControl #CultDynamics #CelebrityAbuse #ToxicLeadership #PowerAndControl #YearInReview #TrueCrimeToday Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

28 Nov 15min

As part of our Hidden Killers 2025 Year in Review series, we’re revisiting two defining moments in the unraveling of the Adelson family empire — moments that exposed not only the legal chaos behind the Dan Markel murder case, but the chilling psychology that fueled it. In this special combined episode, Tony Brueski dissects Donna Adelson’s courtroom performance of a lifetime — a bond hearing turned one-woman show where the alleged murder-for-hire mastermind painted herself as the real victim. Frail, misunderstood, and oh-so-tragically sleepless behind bars, Donna leaned hard into self-pity, deflection, and emotional theater. But beneath the trembling voice and the laundry list of ailments was something far more dangerous: covert narcissism in action. We break down the key moments from her testimony — from her evasive answers to her complete absence of remorse — and unpack how her manipulative tactics mirror the textbook behaviors of covert narcissists. Victim-playing. Reality-twisting. Emotional control disguised as vulnerability. It’s not just courtroom drama — it’s psychological warfare. Then, we turn to the legal front lines, where Donna’s defense team fought to block over 560 pages of divorce records between her daughter Wendi Adelson and slain law professor Dan Markel. The argument? That the bitter custody battle fueling years of tension was “irrelevant.” Prosecutors, however, say it’s the very foundation of motive — the powder keg that led to murder. While Donna’s attorneys tried to keep the narrative tidy, the state saw through it — reminding the court that this “frail grandmother” once tried to board a one-way international flight. And as motions pile up and family ties fracture, it’s becoming clear: this isn’t just about one murder. It’s about a legacy of manipulation, control, and denial finally colliding with accountability. From psychological breakdowns to legal takedowns, this Year in Review episode captures the full scope of the Adelson implosion — a story where justice, narcissism, and family loyalty all share the same DNA. 🎙️ Hidden Killers with Tony Brueski — 2025 Year in Review: The Crimes, the Lies, and the Consequences That Defined the Year. #DonnaAdelson #DanMarkel #WendiAdelson #HiddenKillers #TonyBrueski #TrueCrimePodcast #MurderForHire #CourtroomDrama #Narcissism #LegalAnalysis #HiddenKillersYearInReview #JusticeForDanMarkel #TrueCrimeToday Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

28 Nov 1h 36min

As part of our Hidden Killers 2025 Year in Review series, we’re revisiting one of the most chilling — and hauntingly bizarre — developments in the ongoing Bryan Kohberger case: the alleged “selfie of satisfaction” and the disturbing digital trail that may reveal the psychology of a killer. Newly surfaced evidence points to a digital footprint as unsettling as the crime itself — including an Amazon order history allegedly showing a combat knife, matching sheath, and sharpener purchased months before the Idaho student murders. And then, the image: a post-crime selfie of Kohberger, freshly showered, clean-shaven, giving a thumbs-up in a bright white shirt. Was it arrogance? A trophy? Or the hollow ritual of someone reliving what they’d just done? In this Hidden Killers special, Tony Brueski is joined by retired FBI Special Agent Jennifer Coffindaffer and former FBI Behavioral Unit Chief Robin Dreeke to break down how both the digital evidence and the alleged photo may expose Kohberger’s deeper pathology. Coffindaffer unpacks the forensic side — why a knife sharpener might have been part of the prep, and how such a detail reflects a disturbing level of forethought. Dreeke dives into the behavioral side, exploring how narcissism, ritual, and the need for control manifest in offenders like Kohberger. Together, they ask the question no one wants to answer: could he have been planning for more? We also explore how the selfie itself might play in court — not as a smoking gun, but as a powerful psychological weapon. Could prosecutors use it to humanize the horror for jurors? Could the surviving roommates recognize it as a chilling echo of the man they may have glimpsed that night? From his alleged shopping habits to his eerie self-portrait, this is the story of a man who may have thought he could control every variable — except his own digital reflection. 🎙️ Hidden Killers with Tony Brueski — 2025 Year in Review: The Crimes, the Minds, and the Evidence That Defined the Year. #BryanKohberger #HiddenKillers #TonyBrueski #JenniferCoffindaffer #RobinDreeke #TrueCrimePodcast #IdahoMurders #CriminalPsychology #KnifeEvidence #ForensicAnalysis #CourtroomDrama #YearInReview #TrueCrimeToday #JusticeForVictims Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

28 Nov 30min

As part of our Hidden Killers 2025 Year in Review series, we turn our focus to one of the most bizarre and psychologically chilling trials unfolding in America: Lori Vallow Daybell, the self-proclaimed prophet who’s decided she’s the best person to defend herself in court. Already convicted in Idaho for the murders of her two youngest children, Tylee Ryan and JJ Vallow, and the conspiracy to murder her husband’s former wife, Tammy Daybell, Lori is now facing justice in Arizona for the murder of her fourth husband, Charles Vallow. But this time, there’s no defense team to shield her — because Lori fired them. She’s representing herself. In this special, Tony Brueski sits down with psychotherapist and author Shavaun Scott to unpack the chilling psychology behind Lori’s decision, exploring how delusion, narcissism, and religious grandiosity collide in a courtroom setting. Lori’s behavior — confident, defiant, and disturbingly serene — may seem erratic, but Scott explains how it fits a pattern of pathological self-belief common among cult leaders and high-control personalities. During her recent pretrial hearing, Lori insisted on moving forward with trial despite her own forensics expert not being ready, demanded to exclude incriminating statements from her deceased brother Alex Cox, and even tried to subpoena journalist Nate Eaton — the reporter who’s covered her saga from day one. She also hinted at testifying in her own defense, setting the stage for one of the most surreal spectacles in recent legal history. But beneath the theatrics lies a darker psychology. Lori isn’t just defending herself legally — she’s defending her identity as a “divine messenger.” Scott breaks down how shared psychosis (folie à deux) between Lori and her husband Chad Daybell fueled a belief system that justified murder under the guise of prophecy. Together, they turned apocalypse fantasies into fatal decisions. As jury selection looms and Arizona prosecutors prepare to argue their case, Tony and Shavaun explore whether Lori’s self-representation is a strategy, a symptom, or both — and how her religious delusions continue to warp her sense of accountability. 🎙️ Hidden Killers with Tony Brueski — 2025 Year in Review: The Crimes, The Courtrooms, and The Minds That Shook America. #LoriVallowDaybell #HiddenKillers #TonyBrueski #ShavaunScott #TrueCrimePodcast #CultPsychology #SelfRepresentation #CharlesVallow #ChadDaybell #CourtroomDrama #FolieADeux #NarcissisticDelusion #MurderTrial #ArizonaTrial #YearInReview #TrueCrimeToday Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

28 Nov 57min

As part of our Hidden Killers 2025 Year in Review series, we revisit one of the most chilling and dysfunctional family dramas ever to play out in a courtroom — the Adelson saga, where murder, money, and manipulation collided in one of Florida’s most unforgettable true crime stories. In this combined special, Tony Brueski sits down with Defense Attorney Bob Motta (Defense Diaries) to dissect the bizarre downfall of Donna Adelson and the lingering shadow of her daughter Wendi. First: Donna’s bond hearing — a spectacle of self-pity and denial. The 75-year-old matriarch tried to paint herself as a fragile grandmother “suffering” in jail, lamenting her lack of comfort and care. But prosecutors came armed with something far more powerful than sympathy: her own voice. Recorded jailhouse calls revealed conversations about potential escape plans, non-extradition countries, and a near-miss flight to Vietnam. Suddenly, Donna’s bedtime complaints didn’t sound so innocent. Motta and Brueski break down how Donna’s decision to testify at her own hearing became one of the most catastrophic legal moves of the year — and how her own words could now be used against her at trial. They also explore the psychology of control and entitlement that defined the Adelson family long before Dan Markel’s murder. Then the focus shifts to Wendi Adelson — the woman at the center of the storm who, despite being labeled an unindicted co-conspirator, has never been charged. We unpack the evidence, the custody battles, and the infamous “hitman joke” that prosecutors say revealed more than she intended. Why has Wendi remained free while those around her — from Charlie to Donna to the hitmen — have all fallen? And could new evidence from Donna’s upcoming trial finally change that? It’s a tale of arrogance, privilege, and self-destruction — a family that believed intellect and influence could bend justice, only to watch it snap back with a vengeance. 🎙️ Hidden Killers with Tony Brueski — 2025 Year in Review: The Crimes, the Cases, and the Consequences That Defined the Year. #DonnaAdelson #WendiAdelson #DanMarkel #HiddenKillers #TonyBrueski #BobMotta #DefenseDiaries #TrueCrimePodcast #MurderForHire #FloridaCrime #CourtroomDrama #HiddenKillersYearInReview #JusticeForDanMarkel Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

27 Nov 52min